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Marching Onward: Honoring CHS Band By Samuel Hiers
My experiences in the band during all of my time here at CHS have been fond memories and have deepened not only my appreciation for music in general, but has empowered me to bring together my community and share gifts to as many as possible. Music is a remarkable art form that deserves a place in the world and can help make us happier.
For a moment, picture to yourself a band. It can be a rousing marching band of the likes of Sousa, parading down the street to the cheers of an ecstatic crowd; a concert band bringing out the sounds of the holidays, the seasons, or classical music; a jazz band, dishing out the fiery solos of a saxophone and a piano and “cooling” it down with the classic melody of a standard. Does it bring out cherished memories or bold moods from you? Perhaps it comforts you with nostalgia to remember the piercing choruses of a “pep” band from a football game in your golden high school years. The gift of music from bands can invoke a special feeling amongst almost everyone.
Described above are the great and sometimes overlooked commitments and goals of the school Band and Jazz Band at CHS. Wait a minute, you had no idea that there even was a Band program to exist here at our school, you ask? For sure. But sadly, many of the efforts of these Bands at CHS have been taken for granted and, in some cases, completely forgotten by most of our students and staff. In the wake of COVID, the Band program, like many others in our school, came to a screeching halt, and as a result, many members who would eventually leave could not be replenished due to a lack of awareness and promotion. The large band back in 2019 has diminished to about 20 members now as 2022 comes to a close, and if enough students don’t come in to replace the ones who are to leave in the years to come, the program could possibly be dropped as a class.
Now, this might not be alarming to hear for some, but in my personal opinion and as a member of the band myself, this is extremely disappointing and important. The closing of such a major music program is highly likely to be detrimental to the future of musical education here at our school and in Coventry itself. I personally believe that the rights for students to pursue what they want to achieve and desire as a hobby, music or what not, should be protected and encouraged among the adults not just at our school, but everywhere. For example, if sports in our school systems is such a major deal because the adults heavily promote it, then why can’t it be the same for our music departments? It’s all about opportunity for our kids and for what they enjoy most.
Yes, I may feel that the Band and Jazz Band have fallen short in previous years due to a lack of promotion, awareness, and presence at our school events. But going into a brand new year “free” from COVID, I believe there is hope for a revival of our bands, mainly due to the major efforts from great advocates among our band to get out and make our voices, as well as our “sounds”, heard. I, as a member of the CHS Band and Jazz Band, am proud to present and promote the great strides and progress we have made this year and for the future.
The Concert Band started the year off with a bang by being present at our school’s football games, and provided us with “pep” music to help the school cheer on our football team. These “football game” bands have been a tremendous tradition at schools and colleges for many years, but Mr. Dan Reynolds, our band director at CHS, sees a much larger purpose in these occasions, specifically for our Band at the present time. Around the beginning of the football season, Reynolds remarked to his students that playing at games was perhaps one of the most effective ways to get the band recognized by students and adults alike. “Since football and sports programs are a huge deal here at CHS,” he said last September, “most people will be able to hear our talent. It certainly helps promote our band to the largest possible crowd and gets the word out there”.
Reynolds and his students proved to be not wrong at all, as lots of positive feedback flowed in from the people walking by in the stands. Adults gave warm praise to the band’s commitment and effort, while kids of all ages begged members of the percussion section to have a try at banging their drums. People largely began to take notice at the football games, including the Homecoming Game and Parade as well as the Thanksgiving Game. One game this year was even televised on local TV, and a reporter even got to interview some of the members live! This season, the band certainly provided a great contribution to the “school spirit” by connecting with large audiences and giving the gifts of fun and happiness to as many as possible. What certainly showed was that people had a better time at games when listening to live music and interacting with our members.
One notable story from this year’s football season was the addition of sophomore Kyle Gannon to the “pep” Band’s percussion section. He currently plays the electric bass during our morning Jazz Band class and upright bass in the after school string program. Musically inclined, he had wanted to join our band class during the day, but unfortunately, he was unable to fit it in his schedule. “I have Culinary 2 this year,” Gannon remarks, “which is a full year course and accounts for two class periods. It’s too bad I couldn’t join the concert band.” Director Reynolds had approached Gannon during the morning Jazz Band class, and gave him the opportunity to join in with the marching and ”pep” Band for the football season and the Homecoming Parade. He gladly took the offer to play cymbals. “It was a simple offer that I did not have to practice much for, but the cymbals were unique”, Gannon said. The difference that the “crasher” made during the games was a blessing. Combined with his roaring cheers of “Let’s go baby!” for the touchdowns for home, Kyle’s presence and participation was an outstanding exhibition of the “school spirit”. He later remarked after the season was over that it gave him more appreciation for music and for school events. “It was an awesome experience”, he said.
As the football season came to a close, the Concert Band had to worry about another thing: RIMEA’s All-State Auditions. As part of a class grade, Director Reynolds required his students to audition for an All-State Ensemble of the student’s choosing at Moses Brown School last November 19th. This was a time of great commitment for both the Band and Jazz Band alike, with a great amount of time and effort put in by all members toward their assigned pieces in the hopes of being chosen among the best in the State of Rhode Island this year. Huge shout-outs to senior Jason Noel and junior Hayk Sarian (both trombonists) for receiving some of the well-deserved seats in the All-State Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble!
This year, there was a lot of disappointment from some students who did not make All-State, and that was over one portion of the audition: sight-reading. This was left out of last year’s auditions since things were still virtual at RIMEA, as musical parts that had to be sight-read would have to have been administered by an adjudicator in person. This year, many of the students had hard challenges with the sight-read parts; two students made it into All-State compared to last year’s seven. Senior percussionist Ryley Bruins stated, “All percussionists I know screwed up the sight-reading sections, and the same goes for most other students”. Many were just not confident, or had just no possible way to be prepared for sight-reading in advance. The good thing is, it’s all behind us now, and there’s no more having to be frightened by adjudicators for the time being. “What matters most, and what I am glad about, is that all of my students tried their hardest, no matter what level or position”, Director Reynolds said.
Meanwhile, the morning Jazz Band was busy throughout the beginning of the year and up until now learning countless jazz standards to play for “gigs” throughout town and the school community. The CHS Jazz Band consists entirely of members from the Concert Band (with the exception of Kyle Gannon), but only a portion of the Concert Band members have chosen to join. Last summer, Jazz Band members participated in community service at the Coventry Senior Center by playing jazz music and entertaining the elderly, banging out a show practically every week. But with school back in session and with the Senior Center only being open on weekdays, the Jazz Band has had to find any other random opportunities it could find.
Fortunately, this school year has been a fruitful year for jazz “gigs” so far. Last September, our students played at the Coventry Community Wellness Day, sponsored by the Coventry Senior Center and held at CHS. On November 2nd, the Jazz Band also played for a full cocktail hour to kick off the Coventry Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown. Yet again in November, this time on the 10th, the Jazz Band opened up the CTE Career Night at CHS in the Auditorium.
These “gigs” surely equaled opportunity for every one of our members, and were able to get the Jazz Band program recognized by a larger audience outside of the school. Further, it displayed a great amount of devotion, commitment, and seriousness put in towards music by our students that should be greatly appreciated. The attendees of the induction ceremony greatly praised the musical talent that night, especially the soloing. Solos, in jazz, are sections of music in which a certain musician makes up the melody line. It is essentially an art form that displays different moods and creativity within a single piece of music. Frequently soloing included Jason Noel, junior trombonist James Starosciak, and senior saxophonist Ian Jacobs. Whether it had been the fast, “swingy” attitude of Duke Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” or the cool, nostalgic rhythm of Dave Bruebeck’s “Take Five”, all members put their heart, soul, and great ideas into their solos and rhythms. “Soloing is the best part of being in the Jazz Band, because it gives me the opportunity to be both creative and perform at my max”, Starosciak happily remarked after his efforts at one such “gig”.
So, at present, what are the future motives of our Band and Jazz Band programs? Well, the answer is in one key word: Christmas. Believe it or not, the holiday season is already here, and right now, our bands have been working hard preparing for CHS’s Holiday Concert, which will be held this coming December 14th. In addition, both bands will play Christmas music at Hopkins Hill Elementary School on December 9th for the younger folks, and some members of the Jazz Band will play solo and duet Christmas pieces together at a Dinner and Show in CHS’s Knotty Oak Room on December 8th. While it may sound like a lot, it has certainly been an exciting and festive time for our members, free of worries. Many students are highly enjoying the pieces to be played this year, containing medleys of popular holiday songs. Many instruments that are not normally played in an ensemble in the percussion section, such as the whip crack and the sleigh bells, are being utilized in songs for a fun and festive holiday mood.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the holiday season for Jazz Band is the addition of a special guest for one of our songs. The Jazz Band is laying its focus on an arrangement of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” to perform at the Holiday Concert, and Director Reynolds got in contact with sophomore Addison Noret, a member of the CHS Chorus, to sing the song’s vocals along with the Band. She has already rehearsed with us multiple times, and her distinct voice has been taken notice of by not just our band members, but teachers as well. Some administrators passed by in the hallway during one of the morning Jazz Band rehearsals, and remarked that her voice was “outstanding”. “She has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard”, James Starosciak admitted in conversation following the rehearsals. Noret has not only displayed amazing effort in singing with a band, but her high voice adds an interesting mood and “spice” to the Jazz Band, contrasting with the lower brass instruments. Thus, the “White Christmas” arrangement could lead to future collaboration with the CHS Chorus in the future, as well as adding distinct sound, variation, and adaptability to our Jazz Band.
To conclude with, I personally think that CHS’s music programs have high potential for future events and presence at our school, and the special talent that all of our students have greatly deserves to be heard, respected, and exposed to the rest of the school community. The performances so far this year have clearly shown that music brings our school community together in remarkable ways. “With every performance we do at the school and abroad, it is my hope that the word is better gotten out that we have a strong band program here”, Reynolds asserts. Hopefully, in the near future, we could possibly garner the revival of our band program here at the high school if many more committed and devoted students join us with their musical talent. My experiences in the band during all of my time here at CHS have been fond memories and have deepened not only my appreciation for music in general, but has empowered me to bring together my community and share gifts to as many as possible. Music is a remarkable art form that deserves a place in the world and can help make us happier. So, picture a band to yourself once again. Do you hear the sounds of spirit and contentment?
Featured in this article were many talented young musicians among CHS’s Band and Jazz Band, but you do not know them all yet! Here, we acknowledge the rest of our members not featured: juniors Elizabeth Curran, Sam Gibbons, and sophomores Isabella St. Angelo and James Moneghan on Flute; sophomore Jason “Lil Sauce” Achey on clarinet; freshman Rohan More and sophomore Davit Khachatryan on saxophone; seniors Carlton Burgess, Mitchell Verrier, and juniors Zachary Kanaczet and Jean Staubley on trumpet; junior Vivian Ives on baritone horn; and sophomore Aiden Russell in the percussion section.